'Our role is integral to football's future' - football oversight chief the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's current difficulties represent a a "serious issue" and the independent regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, the recently named head David Kogan has declared.
Through a comprehensive talk, Kogan, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards the club's followers.
Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the football team in recent days.
The team have been struggling on and off the field in this season, with the club missing wage payments on multiple instances, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," Kogan told.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for English football and this week we have met fan representatives.
"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs brought to our attention if they require examination and dealt with."
Economic Challenges and Leadership Concerns
Wednesday's embattled owner Dejphon Chansiri indicated in the summer he would be open to selling the club at the stadium, but he has been unable to finalize an agreement with potential new owners.
Failure to pay player wages on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the league officials in summer, preventing the club from carrying out any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although that restriction was lifted in late summer.
Official's Viewpoint
The regulator explained: "Our role exists to serve the supporters of Wednesday, teams facing challenges where supporters are loyal to a regional establishment that has been part of their lives in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the team's plight, as I do for every team that over recent decades have faced collapse, or approached financial ruin, for reasons that have nothing to do with the followers."
Inquired if the regulator could force an chairman to relinquish a club if they are deemed unsuitable, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we collect the information and know what's going on, we will."
But Kogan stressed that forcing owners to sell clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to cooperate with proprietors.
"The final option we would consider is begin intervening in an individual club, an individual owner, without being able to work with that chairman to fix the issues that the club's facing and the owner's facing," the chairman stated.
"However, realistically, when you look back over the history of the game, over the past few decades there have been certain proprietors, a small minority, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the future."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been demonstrating against owner Dejphon Chansiri this season
'Mistakes could erase significant advances'
Kogan met with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the oversight body this week and stated it constituted a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "high level of engagement" from the National League to the Premier League.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if errors are made, if the sport makes errors, the extraordinary progress that's been made could disappear swiftly," the regulator warned.
"This represents everyone's worst fear in the terms of English football is a substantial accomplishment - we need to continue the progress.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has come into football for the past two decades, because there's no guarantee it will persist in entering the game, which is part of the rationale behind I think we have to adopt a precise perspective on potential dangers and naturally, of the next two or three years."
Top Flight Apprehensions
Elite division representatives objected to the establishment of an oversight body because of concerns about detrimental effects on the elite division's competitive balance, but the chairman responded: "I'm absolutely committed to the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the worry about compromising the Premier League as a premium product of the nation. But at the same time, if you consult with top flight officials after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, indeed, they have been telling us in private they have a considerable comfort."
Political Connections
The chairman continues to confront a "comprehensive investigation" by the public appointments commissioner after he acknowledged providing funds to the opposition group in recent years.
The official provided financial support for Culture Secretary the minister's leadership bid, along with that of the current Prime Minister.
"I've been completely open about my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.
"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."
